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craigsharp

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 2, 2008
140
3
Oklahoma
I'm needing some design help for our logo... Once I get a better image editor I plan on possibly making it look a little like a rubber stamp with a grunge brush... not sure yet...

We will hopefully be incorporating this into our website, sticker, hats etc... even skimpy little tank tops for women... lol



www.DoubleTapped.org/DoubleTapped-design1.png

This is what we have so far...

DoubleTapped-design1.png


Thanks in advance
 
Quick suggestion; you should create your logo in a vector based program such as adobe illustrator. If your logo is a vector file, you can use it any size you'd like. If it's pixels, you can't scale it up much without getting low resolution
 
As the above poster stated this should be done in vector programs not raster.

There are a few things I think should be rethought with this logo.

1. The typography is not great, there are some kerning issues, as well as the font will not work well when the logo is shrunk.

2. The bullet holes should probably not be duplicated as you won't find two bullet holes exactly alike, as in your logo

3. I would rethink putting the logo inside of a box

4. You should have hired a designer.
:rolleyes:

I have no idea what your company does, but a logo is the first thing people see, and you want it to be remembered. This is not a memorable logo. Because the name is Double Tap, I think in this case bullet holes might work, but as they are right now they are cheesy and look like clip art. If I were you I would scrap it and start from scratch... meaning I would hire a designer.

Although I must say you did do something correctly which a lot of people do not do: you started in black and white.
 
Thanks for the replies... We definitely need to hire a designer... My brother in-law is dead set on a skull with 2 bullet holes... idk why... we are much more than that... but ya I knew about doing in black and white from a semester of graphic design at University of Arkansas... Long story there... but had to get out... anyways I'm in process of saving for illustrator or some other vector based software... any suggestions?

oh and btw... that was done in about 5 minutes using MSPaint while I was at work (Police Officer)...
 
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You have no concept. You need to take a big step back and ask yourselves what your goals for the business are. Then if they are important to you, ask what kind of investment you are willing to make. If you're not willing to invest in proper branding, then don't quit your day job.

If you spent one semester in graphic design school, then surely you learned that logos take longer than 5 minutes. Whenever I do logos, I start off with thorough research to solidify a concept. Then I spend many hours sketching and refining logo concepts based on the research. Eventually, I narrow down one of the designs, and refine it further. Once I'm satisfied with the design, I scan it and bring it into Illustrator where I turn it into a vector with the pen tool. It goes through a few more refinements before I lock it down. Then I spend several hours picking a typeface to go with the mark that I designed. Once that's all done, I check to make sure it scales up and down while holding the quality of the logo and type. After I'm satisfied with that, I go onto creating a palette of PMS, RGB, CMYK, colors based on my research.

Since you probably aren't willing to do all of those steps, be prepared to have a crappy unmemorable logo. Or, don't be so frugal and hire a professional graphic designer to design the perfect mark for your business. And please don't post anything else until you are willing to spend time or money on it. What you have shown hurts my eyes. :rolleyes:
 
You have no concept. You need to take a big step back and ask yourselves what your goals for the business are. Then if they are important to you, ask what kind of investment you are willing to make. If you're not willing to invest in proper branding, then don't quit your day job.

If you spent one semester in graphic design school, then surely you learned that logos take longer than 5 minutes. Whenever I do logos, I start off with thorough research to solidify a concept. Then I spend many hours sketching and refining logo concepts based on the research. Eventually, I narrow down one of the designs, and refine it further. Once I'm satisfied with the design, I scan it and bring it into Illustrator where I turn it into a vector with the pen tool. It goes through a few more refinements before I lock it down. Then I spend several hours picking a typeface to go with the mark that I designed. Once that's all done, I check to make sure it scales up and down while holding the quality of the logo and type. After I'm satisfied with that, I go onto creating a palette of PMS, RGB, CMYK, colors based on my research.

Since you probably aren't willing to do all of those steps, be prepared to have a crappy unmemorable logo. Or, don't be so frugal and hire a professional graphic designer to design the perfect mark for your business. And please don't post anything else until you are willing to spend time or money on it. What you have shown hurts my eyes. :rolleyes:

Not to go off topic but I'm snagging this entire post and sending it to friends each time they ask me to do graphic design work. I am NOT a graphic designer (working with 3D graphics and digital painting != graphic designer) yet for some reason I constantly get requests for graphic design work because they're too cheap to hire someone good. I of course say no but really haven't found a good way to explain what all goes in to a good logo design (since again, I'm not a graphic designer) but this post hit the mark. Thank you!
 
It looks like someone is hooked on Blackwater before they branded to Xe...

I think the question isn't on the ability in the design but rather what image does two holes in a skulls actually say about a brand, business or blog? The logo looks like an great analysis piece for Granville Stanley Hall.
 
personally i wouldnt listen to most people about hiring a designer, i use alot of programs that i first had no knowledge of, its all about how much you want to learn and how much creativity you have, people who say hire someone may be right in one case, however people like me say "impossible is impossible and possible is very possible" so either do two things *HIRE* or *LEARN* it takes a couple of youtube clips to learn basic things, use them implement them and modify, great ideas are based on others almost all the time.

and for your logo its pretty crap, get some vector files and modify them then use them in your own creative way..

i mean double tapped what does bullet holes have anything to do with it? what does a skull have to do with it? have some sort of relevance that someone can understand...
 
Thank you for all your constructive criticism... We have decided to hire a designer... we'll see where this goes...
 
Thank you for all your constructive criticism... We have decided to hire a designer... we'll see where this goes...

I bet in the end (if you hire a good designer) you'll really appreciate that you did. Not only will it give your customers confidence when they see a professionally designed logo, but it'll also take the work off your shoulders and allow you to focus on building your brand.

Best of luck!
 
personally i wouldnt listen to most people about hiring a designer, i use alot of programs that i first had no knowledge of, its all about how much you want to learn and how much creativity you have.....
it takes a couple of youtube clips to learn basic things, use them implement them and modify, great ideas are based on others almost all the time.

Wow, I'd love to see all of the wonderful designs you are able to create by looking at a couple of youtube clips. I guess quality standards are subjective.

And if you're talking about learning software, well... knowing software doesn't make you a good designer. Period.
 
Wow, I'd love to see all of the wonderful designs you are able to create by looking at a couple of youtube clips. I guess quality standards are subjective.

And if you're talking about learning software, well... knowing software doesn't make you a good designer. Period.

Long story but a friend of mine had been passed over for a Creative Director's role instead his boss decided to hire his wife, from what I've heard she paints a mean living room and knits (12 years home making)... BTW they've lost 4 long term contracts in 3 months and he's now polishing up his portfolio because the company can't pay him.

The point I'm trying to make is that any good profession (not just talking design here) makes a job look easy and because of this the perception is that it's easy to do. Chances are if someone fails they'll either try and learn the craft OR hire a pro, unfortunately with the interwebs tooling is now in the same class as design when it clearly isn't.

To the OP I think you've made a good choice to even just get some new ideas into the mix, I really don't think you'll regret it. You'll have to post the finished design I'd be interested to see the path the designer has taken.
 
Wow, I'd love to see all of the wonderful designs you are able to create by looking at a couple of youtube clips. I guess quality standards are subjective.

And if you're talking about learning software, well... knowing software doesn't make you a good designer. Period.

its all about how much you want to learn and how much creativity you have.....

did you not read that part?

i know people who know logic studio inside out yet make crap beats, in my opinion your one of those people who would rather see what qualifications someone has rather than what talent they have.. and i said learn the basics and modify them, anything can be great if its pleasing to the eye, if he can do 80% of the work himself then he has saved himself alot of money.

i have my own logo for my own artist name, whether you like it or not i do not care, a majority of people i know like it..

and i didnt learn photoshop from college or school i simply watched youtube clips and learned how to make a vector (kinda) and now i use it for everything that requires my logo...
 
its all about how much you want to learn and how much creativity you have.....

did you not read that part?

i know people who know logic studio inside out yet make crap beats, in my opinion your one of those people who would rather see what qualifications someone has rather than what talent they have.. and i said learn the basics and modify them, anything can be great if its pleasing to the eye, if he can do 80% of the work himself then he has saved himself alot of money.

i have my own logo for my own artist name, whether you like it or not i do not care, a majority of people i know like it..

and i didnt learn photoshop from college or school i simply watched youtube clips and learned how to make a vector (kinda) and now i use it for everything that requires my logo...


Not everything can be learned from clips on youtube, you need classical training to help you. Trust me I am a Graphic Designer for the biggest hospitality firm in the United States. I have been designing for 11+ years after being formally taught for 4 years, because schooling teaches you typography, fluidity of design, and everything needed to get a solid understanding of programs. People who learn off the internet can be good designers, but not all the time is that the case, and give people who are "actual" designers bad raps.
 
Not everything can be learned from clips on youtube, you need classical training to help you. Trust me I am a Graphic Designer for the biggest hospitality firm in the United States. I have been designing for 11+ years after being formally taught for 4 years, because schooling teaches you typography, fluidity of design, and everything needed to get a solid understanding of programs. People who learn off the internet can be good designers, but not all the time is that the case, and give people who are "actual" designers bad raps.

+1, very very well said. Again tooling ≠ design (or creative)

I have to mention the wisdom of Sir John Hegarty when he said that anyone can be creative but not everyone has the expertise to become a creative.
 
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